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I. THE CASE STATED.

1. The appeal.

(1)  To whom made. To a "friend."

(2)  When made. "At midnight."

(3)  How made. Definitely. "Lend me three loaves."

2. The argument.

(1)  The fact of need.

(2)  The relationship implied. You are my "friend."

3. The response.

(1) Most discouraging.

(a)  The attitude of the respondent discouraging. "He from within."

(b)  The spirit of the respondent discouraging. "Trouble me not."

(c)  The argument of the respondent discouraging. "The door is now shut," &c.

4. The appellant's success.

(1) Negatively.

(a)  Not on the ground of friendly relationship.

(b)  Not on the ground of his need.

(2) Positively. On the ground of his importunity.

II. THE CASE APPLIED.

1. To every disciple. "And I say unto you."

2. To the essential conditions of success in prayer.

(1)  Prayer itself essential.

(2)  To pray for what we need is essential.

(a)  Bread or fish are among the necessaries of life.

(b)  To ask these when needed is implied.

(3) Importunity in prayer.

3. To the perfect assurance of success to those who thus pray.

(1)  "Every one" that thus "asketh."

(2)  This success is guaranteed on two grounds to the importunate pleader.

(a)  Our relationship. "Your heavenly Father."

(b)  God's infinite graciousness. "How much more?"Lessons:

1. The contrast in the parable heightens the believer's encouragement.

(1)  Our heavenly Father never answers "from within."

(2)  Our heavenly Father never says "Trouble Me not."

(3)  To the heavenly Father it is never "midnight."

2. Prayer as a Divine condition of blessing one of the most gracious evidences of the Divine love.

3. Importunity the only true evidence of the sincerity of our prayer, and the reality of our felt need, and actuality of our faith.

(D. O. Hughes, M. A.)

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KJV: And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

WEB: He said to them, "Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight, and tell him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,